There are numerous things that you need to consider when it comes to the gravure cylinder; one of the crucial things that you need to consider is the base material. There are several types of material used. Depending on the type of gravure printing you are using, you need to get the right material.

In this guide, we are going to look at some of the main base materials that are used for the construction of gravure cylinders. However, these materials work best in certain conditions. Check out the following:

Steel

Steel is one of the machines that have been used for the construction of a gravure cylinder. From the early, it is the material widely used. That’s because of the numerous benefits that the material has over most of the available options. In fact, it is one of the materials that make it easy to do any kind of printing that you are doing.

Steel offers incredible features such as uniformity and a very high degree of predictability. The very smooth surface that doesn’t rust is another benefit that you get from these steel cylinders. Steel base material can also withstand even the most demanding conditions.

Aluminum

After the use of steel, manufacturers started looking for other alternatives that offer the same all better quality features. That’s how aluminum became one of the widely used gravure cylinder base materials. One of the biggest benefits that come with aluminum materials is the lightness of the material.

So, it is easy to transport, especially when doing it in bulk. The handling of these gravure cylinders is also pretty easy. Note that aluminum does not rust and is less affected by the chemicals in ink. So, they are durable. But one of the disadvantages that come with aluminum gravure cylinder base material is difficult to electroplate with copper.

Plastic

Plastic is the newest base material for the gravure cylinders. The material has not been used for a long time but’s already showing huge potential. The manufactures of these cylinders are modifying the plastic material so that it can get electroplated.

Unlike steel and aluminum, steel is lighter, and thus, you can carry and handle it easily. Plastic is not affected by the acidity in ink, and thus the cylinders will last for a longer time. The material is also not affected by rust. Therefore, you can expect to enjoy their services for a longer time.